News Releases

The City of Saskatoon has just launched its holiday recycling campaign, Naughty or Nice Recycling Advice, that encourages residents to keep waste reduction and diversion top of mind during the holiday season.

“Gifts, wrapping material, decorations, celebrations, and festive feasts can all result in a significant amount of waste over the holiday season, so we have to find opportunities to cut down on that waste and to effectively divert it from our landfill,” says Katie Burns, Education and Environmental Performance Manager. “Small changes can make a big difference in cutting down the amount of holiday waste, so whenever you’re unsure just ask the Saskatoon Waste Wizard for advice.”

Here are some helpful tips to ensure you are minimizing holiday waste in your household:

• Empty, rinse and flatten all containers
• Place recyclables loose in your blue bin, not in boxes or bags
• Reduce, re-use, re-gift whatever you can
• Skip the fancy wrapping and reuse paper, ribbons, bows, and bags
• Take large or excess recycling to a public recycling depot
• Take your natural Christmas tree to a City drop-off site
• Get naughty or nice recycling advice from the Saskatoon Waste Wizard

Residents are also reminded of the following important waste information over the holiday season:

• Don’t miss pick-up day! Set up reminders at saskatoon.ca/collectioncalendar or download the Saskatoon Waste Wizard from the App Store or Google Play.
• Spread some joy by helping your neighbours roll out their carts
• The City Landfill will be closed on December 25 and January 1
• Cut down on emissions by carpooling with friends and family, or get your ‘shop on’ and hop on the Jingle Bell Express for quick access to all the malls in Saskatoon

For more information and tips on holiday waste reduction and diversion visit saskatoon.ca/waste

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is excited to introduce the newest pack in town – Arctic wolves Nuna, Anori and Inneq.

“Arctic wolves are beautiful animals, and we are so fortunate to have an opportunity for our guests to come and learn more about this magnificent species,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “Arctic wolves are a sub species of grey wolf, and they have some fantastic adaptations including the ability to withstand the sub-zero temperatures and months of absolute darkness often experienced in their natural habitat.”

The three sisters arrived safely from Toronto Zoo last week, and the zookeepers have been slowly introducing the wolves to their new home at the Nutrien Ark.

“We want to give the wolves a chance to become familiar with their new home, so for the next several days they will be transitioning from their indoor space to the outdoor wolf habitat at the Nutrien Ark,” says Mitchell.

The Zoo has been preparing for the wolves’ arrival for several weeks, upgrades to the interior portion of the exhibit were completed, including a new training and enrichment area which allows zookeepers to work more closely with the wolves. Automatic heated water bowls were also added providing access to fresh, clean water. In the outdoor portion of their habitat, a new structure provides an opportunity for the wolves to den or climb up on top to get a better view of their space. In the summer, the wolves will also get the opportunity to explore an upgraded pond in the exhibit.

The Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is admission by donation until March 31, 2022. Visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit or learn more about the Zoo Season Pass.

Hit all the malls this holiday season by taking Route 1225 - Jingle Bell Express! 

This is Saskatoon Transit’s sixth year providing special holiday service to all the malls. The service runs every weekend in December (except on December 25 and 31) and then again with free service on Boxing Day (December 26). Participating malls include Centre, Confederation, Lawson Heights, Market, and Midtown. 

“The Jingle Bell Express removes the hassle of driving and full parking lots while providing riders with access to malls they may not otherwise visit,” says Cory Shrigley, Customer Support and Engagement Manager of Saskatoon Transit.  

The Jingle Bell Express buses are decorated and play holiday music.  

Service 

• Weekends (Saturday and Sunday)  
  • 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  
  • Regular fares apply  
• Boxing Day (fare free)  
  • 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  

Use the Transit App or Google Maps Transit to plan a trip, or consult the route schedule on Transit’s website or call Transit Customer Service (306.975.3100) for help with trip planning. 

Jingle Bell Express riders who complete a short survey on the website will be in for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards sponsored by the participating malls. 

Get your ‘shop on’ and hop on the Jingle Bell Express!  

City Administration is proposing the development of a new bylaw to improve the City’s ability to protect trees on public property. City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will consider a report at its meeting December 5, which recommends the development of a new tree protection bylaw, as well as revisions to the existing Trees on City Property Council Policy, to improve the protection, growth and preservation of public trees.

“While a bylaw will help address and formalize compliance issues, the City’s enforcement approach will always prioritize education and collaboration as our primary courses of action,” says Darren Crilly, Director of Parks. “Overall, a tree protection bylaw will help to sustain the health, beauty and safety of the City’s urban forest by providing an effective mechanism to protect and preserve trees on public property for future generations.”

Protecting Saskatoon’s urban forest is one of the key action areas identified in the City’s Pathway to a Sustainable Urban Forest Implementation Plan -- approved in principle -- by Council on October 31, 2022. The plan includes multiple recommendations with specific focus on the following areas:

• develop a new tree protection bylaw for trees on City property and update existing City Council Policy No. C09-011, Trees on City Property;
• develop a formalized tree protection process that ensures clear and consistent processes for stakeholders who conduct work near public trees; and
• update and consolidate tree protection specifications for work that takes place near public trees.

Upon approval by City Council, the City will work to develop the new bylaw and revise the existing policy for Council approval in late 2023.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/engage and search for Tree Protection Bylaw.